MIDNIGHT SQUALL. 27 



squall from E. N. E., so severe as to require the 

 use of a second anchor. The rain was so bitterly 

 cold and sudden, as well as violent, acting also on 

 our frames with more severity from the lightness 

 of our clothinof, that it had all the effect of a shower 

 bath, momentarily taking away the power of speech. 

 It caused a rapid fall in the thermometer of ten 

 degrees, bringing it as low as 60°. At Port Dar- 

 win it had been regularly 87° and 89° in the day, 

 and 80° at night. 



The squall gave but slight warning of its ap- 

 proach, and four hours afterwards the mutinous 

 assemblage of clouds had wholly disappeared from 

 the heavens, leaving nothing to stay the advent of 

 light which came pouring itself in floods of molten 

 glory over the cloudless sky, as the morning broke. 

 This was the signal of our again moving towards 

 Port Patterson, which we entered, passing on the 

 eastern side of the reef in the mouth, and anchoring 

 close to the eastern shore of the outermost of a 

 chain of sandy islets, forming the west entrance 

 pointof the harbour, and extending eight miles in a 

 N. N. E. ^ E. direction from the land. This group 

 is based on a great coral ledge that dries in part at 

 low water, thus affording the natives the means of 

 going over easily to them, a circumstance of which 

 they avail themselves, as we found them on the outer 

 island. They would not, however, come near us, 

 movino- off as we landed. Doubtless the terror of 

 some of their party, in a great measure arose from 



